de Blasio Press Q&A: The Pussy Riot Edition (Updated x 3)



Today Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of Carl Weisbrod as chair of the City Planning Commission.

Among the topics discussed during the Q&A portion of the announcement press conference was a vital question – can the mayor pronounce the name of guests scheduled to visit him this afternoon.


Update – Full Answer:

Sandwiched between the opening and closing giggles he elicited from the press, Mayor de Blasio gave a serious answer on why he plans to meet with members of Russian band Pussy Riot this afternoon.

Update #2 – Sandy:

Mayor de Blasio was asked about ongoing Hurricane Sandy rebuilding and resiliency efforts. It’s an issue that has not received much public focus in the first six weeks of the de Blasio administration.  With ongoing substantial rebuilding continuing in several parts of the City, however, it’s going to demand attention.  Here’s what the mayor had to say:

For background, here is our coverage from de Blasio’s October visit to Breezy Point and September visit to Far Rockaway.

Update #3 – Full Q&A:

Following statements from de Blasio and Weisbrod, de Blasio answered questions from the press.  On-topic questions included his process for selecting Weisbrod and whether as Transition C-Chair Weisbrod submitted his own name for consideration, what neighborhoods they are targeting for revitalization and what they plan for those neighborhoods, whether Carl Weisbrod is related to Ann Weisbrod, what plans they have for rolling back Bloomberg administration planning initiatives, governance of the City Planning Commission, the status of the Transition Committee co-chaired by Weisbrod, how Weisbrod’s past work in revitalizing neighborhoods and his current role intersect, the mayor’s strategic plan for post-Sandy rebuilding in waterfront neighborhoods and the challenges of finding neighborhoods primed for growth.

Following a statement on the importance of donating blood and a question on his own experience of donating blood that morning, the mayor answered off-topic questions including a preview of his State of the City address, why he was not wearing his wedding ring, his plan to charge rent to some charter schools, whether the administration has started labor contract negotiations, de Blasio’s scheduled meeting with members of the Russian band Pussy Riot, his plans for addressing potholes on city streets and Vice President Biden’s characterization of LaGuardia as a “third world” airport.

Here is Mayor de Blasio’s full press Q&A.